Variable contour golf putting device

ABSTRACT

A portable adjustable golf putting green including a plurality of hingedly interconnected base sections extendable to form an elongated golf putting surface in conjunction with a flexible continuous associated surface covering, The apparatus is adjustable for varying putting surface contours, and is collapsible to an easily portable package by interconnecting adjoining base sections with hinges located alternately at the top and bottom surfaces thereof. Also provided is a plurality of pegs and blocks for supporting adjacent base sections at different selective elevations.

Unite MacLean States Pate VARllLlE CONTOUR GOLF PUTTING DEVICE [76] Inventor: George D. MacLean, 2713 Daly 52] US. Cl. ..273/176 11 51 1m. (:1. ..A63b 67/02 58 Field 01 Search ..273/l76, 195,87; 206/46 AM, 196, 197, 198, 177, 178, 179, l80

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,76l,039 6/1930 Hazeltine ..273/l76 H 1,662,864 3/l928 Petersen ..273/l76 H l 1 1 in l 11 U 1 1451 Apr. 17, 1973 l,856,816 5/1932 Luddy ..273/l76 F Primary Examiner-George J. Marlo Att0rney-David H. Semmes ABSTRACT A portable adjustable golf putting green including a plurality of hingedly interconnected base sections extendable to form an elongated golf putting surface in conjunction with a flexible continuous associated surface covering, The apparatus is adjustable for varying putting surface contours, and is collapsible to an easily portable package by interconnecting adjoining base sections with hinges located alternately at the top and bottom surfaces thereof. Also provided is a plurality of pegs and blocks for supporting adjacent base sections at different selective elevations.

6 Claims, 7 DrawingFigures PATENIEnAPRmm v 3127,91?

sum 1 or 2 INVENTOR GEORGE D. MAC LEAN @Aa04 M ATTGQNEY PATENTEDAPRmm 1 3'72? 917 SHEET 2 or 2 I. nnnnn on GEORGE D. MACLEAN VARIABLE CONTOUR GOLF PUTTING DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION:

Heretofore, numerous types of devices and apparatus have been devised which are usable as practice golf putting aids or games. Such prior devices, however, have, for the most part, consisted of complex, expensive constructions lacking qualities of ease of setting up and adjusting of contours and lacking in ease of compacting for portability. Many such devices, also, have characteristics which, in usable operative, condition, deviate from actual golf green constructions and are lacking in ease of contour adjustment or variation, ease of placement, and ease of compacting for easy portability.

The present invention is directed to apparatus overcoming these various drawbacks, among others, of previous known similar apparatus.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION:

The invention is a portable, adjustable golf putting green which consists of a plurality of base sections hingedly interconnected alternately in top and bottom hinge points, with the sections conjointly forming an elongated golf putting surface when in an operative ex tended position. The upper surface of the so-positioned section is adapted for unbroken, continuous covering by flexible carpeting or other material simulating a putting green surface. The covering is connected at one end of the construction. The sections are foldable, one with respect to another, at the hinge points to form a collapsed, easily portable unit with the surface covering compactly rolled and nested thereagainst.

The placement of the hinge'points, in conjunction with a plurality of contour adjustment members such as dowels and adjusting blocks, or the like, permits varying a putting surface defined by the plurality of sections depending upon placement of the adjustment members in conjunction with the alternately arranged hinge points.

Other and additional advantages and objects of the present invention will appear in more detail hereinafter when taken together in conjunction with the appended drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the device of the invention in extended operable condition, a portion being broken away for clarity of details;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, side elevational view of the device in one playing surface contour condition disclosing the hinged interconnecting arrangement between contiguous base sections;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2, disclosing a variation of disposition for a different putting surface contour;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the apparatus in folded, portable condition;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the apparatus in a partially folded condition;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a plurality of adjusting members in the nature of dowels; and

FIG. 7 is a view of a plurality of contour varying adjustment blocks.

Referring now in more detail to the drawings, the simulated portable, adjustable putting green generally designated 10 consists of a plurality of base sections 12,

l4, l6, I8, 20, and 22, hingedly interconnected, as will be pointed out hereinafter. These base sections can consist of any desirable material such as plywood, plastic, fiberglass, or any other usable material having the required strength and rigidity. Section 12 has an opening 24 simulating or representing a usual putting green golf cup and a back rail 26 and side rails 28. Sections 14, 16, 18, and 20 have similar side rails 30, and section 22 which constitutes the end section or entrance has partial side rails 32.

The various contiguous sections are hingedly interconnected byalternately positioned lower hinges 34 and upper hinges 36, as more clearly shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 5. The function and purpose of this hinge arrangement between contiguous sections will be described hereinafter.

A simulated putting surface is formed by flexible carpeting or the like such as indoor-outdoor carpet or other appropriate material, as indicated at 38. This surface covering 38 is shown in the extended operating condition of the device in FIG. 1 having an opening or hole therethrough 40 which mates with hole 24 in base section 12, the openings conjointly simulating a putting green cup. An end 38A of covering 38 is attached to the rearward end of section 12 in abutment with back rail 26, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5. A free end portion 388 of the surface covering extends over and beyond the end of section 22 and constitutes an entrance end or portion of the simulated putting surface and adapted in operative positionment to lie flat on a supporting surface.

Section 12, which includes the cup, is preferably adapted to be raised or lowered by means of a plurality of pegs or dowels 40, as shown in FIG. 6 and as shown in operative positionment in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 and which mate with holes or openings formed through the bottom and side rails of section 12. The length of the dowels can vary and can be selectively used for not only varying the section elevationally but, also, angularly by utilization of different lengths. This variation is permitted by the lower positionment of hinge 34 between, for example, sections 12 and 14. A plurality of blocks 42 or the like, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 3, are usable to vary the contour of the putting surface by positionment as shown in FIG. 3 between various contiguous sections hingedly interconnected by lower hinges 34. The alternate arrangement of lower hinges 34 and upper hinges 36 permits variation of the alignment of contiguous sections, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 to vary the putting surface contour.

Of significance is the fact that the surface covering 38 is continuous and unbroken and, when the putting surface contour is varied, forms a continuous, un-

broken putting surface closely simulating that which I will be found under actual golfing conditions.

The alternate arrangement of the hinges 34 and 36 also permits folding of the sections, one with respect to another, at the hinge points to form a collapsed, easily portable unit, as shown in FIG. 4, with the surface covering compactly rolled and nested thereagainst and the so-compacted unit appropriately secured by bands 44 of any practical type. A partially collapsed or folded condition is shown in FIG. 5 further emphasizing the alternating hinge arrangement between contiguous sections and the end attachment of the surface covering 38.

The features of the invention which result in easy portability, rapid and easy placement for use, and easily variable surface putting contour will be appreciated from the foregoing. Manifestly, changes and variations in specific structure can be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined in and limited solely by the appended claims.

I claim:

1, A portable adjustable golf putting green, comprising:

A. a plurality of, including at least three, contiguous base sections;

B. hinges interconnecting successive adjoining ones of said base sections alternately at top and bottom surfaces thereof for folding successive said sections alternately and reversely with respect to one another to forma collapsed, easily portable unit and for selective angular variation therebetween;

C. a continuous flexible surface covering attached at one end thereof to an outer end of an end one of said sections and adapted for a continuous unbroken surface covering positionment over said base sections regardless of angular variation or positionment thereof with respect to one another and for a retracted rolled condition for storage;

and

D. means for supporting adjacent base sections at different selective elevations to provide selective angular variations therebetween.

2. A portable adjustable golf putting green, as

claimed in claim 1, including a plurality of pegs of selected length, selectively engageable with said end one of said sections and operable when engaged to vary elevation and angularization of said section with respect to a supporting surface, said end one of said sections and the adjoining section being hingedly interconnected at the bottoms thereof.

3. A portable adjustable golf putting green, as claimed in claim 2, and further including a plurality of surface contour varying blocks positionable selectively under bottom hinges between adjoining said sections to selectively conjointly elevate contiguous ends of said sections.

4. A portable adjustable golf putting green, as claimed in claim 3, said end one of said sections having a back and side rails, the others of said contiguous base sections having side rails, said back and side rails conjointly defining in operative positionment of said putting green a play area confined zone.

5. A portable adjustable golf putting green, as claimed in claim 4, one said section at the opposite end from said end one of said sections, constituting an entrance section and having partial side rails thereon, said surface covering, when in operative surface covering positionment, extending beyond the extreme end of said entrance end section.

6. A portable adjustable golf putting green, as claimed in claim 5, said end one of said sections and said surface covering when positioned over said section having mating holes simulating a golf green cup. 

1. A portable adjustable golf putting green, comprising: A. a plurality of, including at least three, contiguous base sections; B. hinges interconnecting successIve adjoining ones of said base sections alternately at top and bottom surfaces thereof for folding successive said sections alternately and reversely with respect to one another to form a collapsed, easily portable unit and for selective angular variation therebetween; C. a continuous flexible surface covering attached at one end thereof to an outer end of an end one of said sections and adapted for a continuous unbroken surface covering positionment over said base sections regardless of angular variation or positionment thereof with respect to one another and for a retracted rolled condition for storage; and D. means for supporting adjacent base sections at different selective elevations to provide selective angular variations therebetween.
 2. A portable adjustable golf putting green, as claimed in claim 1, including a plurality of pegs of selected length, selectively engageable with said end one of said sections and operable when engaged to vary elevation and angularization of said section with respect to a supporting surface, said end one of said sections and the adjoining section being hingedly interconnected at the bottoms thereof.
 3. A portable adjustable golf putting green, as claimed in claim 2, and further including a plurality of surface contour varying blocks positionable selectively under bottom hinges between adjoining said sections to selectively conjointly elevate contiguous ends of said sections.
 4. A portable adjustable golf putting green, as claimed in claim 3, said end one of said sections having a back and side rails, the others of said contiguous base sections having side rails, said back and side rails conjointly defining in operative positionment of said putting green a play area confined zone.
 5. A portable adjustable golf putting green, as claimed in claim 4, one said section at the opposite end from said end one of said sections, constituting an entrance section and having partial side rails thereon, said surface covering, when in operative surface covering positionment, extending beyond the extreme end of said entrance end section.
 6. A portable adjustable golf putting green, as claimed in claim 5, said end one of said sections and said surface covering when positioned over said section having mating holes simulating a golf green cup. 